Some are great picture. But the quality can match up by a zorky or a fed camera on fomapan film. But I have to say i never tryed a leica. And I think there are many photographers who just cant afford one. You can always afford a zorki a fed or a zenit. And after all not a leica makes a photographer. Leicas make snobs, and a few pohotographers. The zorki's and fed's had made photographers and a few snobs. It's easy from hollywood to comment on how fucking lame are all the people who use digital, or anyting else but rangefinder leica. Try to move to a former comunist country and buy a leica and be a fucking photographer here.

this is really the best article i read about photography and Leicas also...
thank you for posting it. altough i do not own Leica and never had the opportunity to try it, i would like to have one. you´re lucky man

one of the rarely positive side effects of physics is the fact that wider aperture gives shorter depth of field, with corresponding shorter exposures (ie. more possibilities with less available light, and distinction within your picture at the same time)

...can you imagine how fucked up photography would be if that was the other way around? long exposures for shorter depth of field, fuck no.

your writing style is infamously fucked up in your own special way... if you hired someone to make paragraphs out of your chaotic genius, you'd start a fucking revolution.

this is the article that convinced me to buy one and the shot of the girl gently sipping her drink is what sent me over the edge of completely believing that your are really beyond awesome thanks for the great inspiration

Hey Chris, thanks for a great set of photo's and for inspiring me to go out and just take photo's. I don't have a leica, but I know how special an old camera is, when I use my Dads old Minolta Srt 101, with the 1.4. It's magic.
Even if film and developing is ludicrously expensive in South Africa.

well it certainly looks like a lot of people have read this, and certainly a lot have commented.
i don't think i've read anything like this anywhere from someone as passionate about photography as you [except perhaps for polaroid/timezero afficiandos].. its certainly an eye opener.
i told my mother i wanted a leica - she told me it was probably illegal to publish photos of other people without their consent, "stalking them"..
i told my dad, and he said, "you know, i have always wanted a leica."
end of story.
thanks for opening the eyes to a new type of photogrpahy (from someone who thought the SLR had it nailed.. but knew it was less than stealthy).
many thanks for the diatribe

Chris, I have to say, I love your dedication to film. People like you are the reason that Ilford refuses to throw in the towel. Of course, digital has it's place in the plasticfantastic world of deadlines and cost-effectiveness, but when one is making art and I mean really making art, they're pulling something out of themselves... and I'll say one thing for sure, "digital images" don't come from your soul. Not like a child would come from a person.

Everything I process myself feels complete. The Macbook will never replace the imtimacy and solitude of a pitch black closet. How else can you really get in touch with what you're feeling?

A true photograph is a tangible, real, flawed thing of beauty, just like you or I, and not even a million treapixel camera will change that. Ever.

I've been doing digital for College (photojournalism diploma) and it sickens me how cold digital work feels to create. I'm still taking pictures, but I'm not making "photographs". We aren't even photographERs. We're creating digital images, which is something different.

It's all documentation versus art, I suppose.

...and I don't shoot Leica for the same reason as everyone above. Funds. But I am stuck on an old Nikon F for film work. Cheap and strong. It will come someday.

I have no way of purchasing my own film camera as of now, seeing as I use a DSLR while working for school, and he seems to have a problem with me making use of the maxxus we have( a manual film camera) though my only experience's are with that of higher level DSLR's on manual, I can imagine the whole film process tedious, but more rewarding.

ill have to try it some time, if I get someone in command who allows me a bit more experimentation in my work of course.

I always read, look at your stuff...but I only comment when I think it's worthwhile.
You have a real knack for pissing me off....and just when I want to say 'fuck you, you pretentious prick' you immediately come up with something else that is spot on, true, down to earth and (more often than not) funny.

Photography as an artform for most of us is an immotive one, but most of us aren't artists (commercial real estate pays my mortgage). You do this for a living which is something that I tend to forget. So each and every time I start to go down the 'what a prize wanker' route....I stop and think, 'Hey, this guy does this day in and day out, what are my attitudes towards my work and the people that contact me daily? How would I feel if some upstart started on at me about what I do?'....I figure I can't crit on any count.

So...what have we learnt, ...I think you are honest, you know your onions, and you can take a decent shot. As for the Leica diatribe...well, we share so much else in terms of taste (watches, flashlights, France, gearbags, cigars...possibly [H. Upmann are currently providing me with my tobacco pleasure])...I'll trust your judgement on the Leica...besides, who am I to disagree....and who can dispute the quality of such a manufacturer (unless you are talking about their earlier digital jokes!). In fact you are so european in so many ways...you figure out if that's good or bad!

Very cool work. Jaded... but cool. I read the whole thing and I get the feeling you like those cameras! You're very good at talking about your work and the processes you use. Many artists (myself included), are like, "um here's a pic-ture I took yesterday. Sun light. Girl pretty."

You've almost got me wanting to go back in the traditional darkroom. I'm also a fan of toy cameras, view cameras and even ambrotypes. I really like the stuff you're producing, particularly with your favorite cameras, at close range.

so i read this whole thing, which i was impressed by myself with. your obviously in love with your leica, all four of them! i think you say alot of true things, "Moments don't include the oppertunity for re-shoots." particuarly spoke to me.

I'm...
That was amazing.
You're a brilliant writer as well as photographer.
I'm a digital 'photographer'. I hate my camera.
I don't hate digital cameras as such, but yeah, they don't have the same effect as film.

My favourite pic is on page 23.
But I like everything else as well...

Yes, I do realise I'm reading this almost a year after you posted it, but a friend showed me this, and as I said, it was amazing.
And I'm not sure how valid a 16 year-olds opinion is anymore.

finally i read it... i must say really cool ! i must say i really love to read things about your photographs, about the background and your thoughts. someone ask me to do "casual"-cool b/w wedding shots in september. i thought of yours...and found them again in this paper. I guess i already told you but they are fucking brilliant. I like to look at your photographs - they save not only the moment they also save the spirit of the scene.
also the "cover" shot with that kid model... i really like you play with the aperture and how you blind out the people in the front !

fun to read and even if we disagree on some points or have just different views... We agree on so many things especially regarding these "fake" photographers.
I go to my dealer and he shows a elica in a Bag, it is a columbus edition. He tells me that if he opnes the bag, the camera will half its value. Is it ven stilla camera? What poor destiny it has.
ANd those guys with the digiams? I almost have pity of them.

And I think you fail to mention one, big difference that intercours between and film and digital.
When I use my Leica, my Exakta or my Rollei.. I shoot, maybe once, maybe if I am lucky I get two attempts... Then I have to wait. Then I develop. Then I wait, thein I print. Or maybe I bring it to the shop. BUt still, there is a hiatus.

Ever noticed instead how quick digital people look at their pityful display to "check"? They get distracted! And of course they do trial-and-error.

At the end, they tend to loose the capacity to visialuize the fact that you need to "study" your subject, to "forecast it" and then capture its instant.

Maybe I get a bad shot more often, but when one comes out, I feel my soul in it. That is so difficult to explain to someone who doesn't do it, it...

I remember how I learned...my first exposure (pardon the pun) to photography was via a pinhole camera I made out of a huge popcorn tin with a 4x6 piece of photo paper in it. Expose the image directly on the paper.

Not even a leica with its subtle *thwappp* beats the stealthy nature of a pinhole camera, and to have a true one of a kind with no negative at all. I've seen pinhole cameras made out of matchboxes, and produce killer poster sized prints. But at the same time, no real easy (or fast) way to control depth of field. It's a lot of math to get it just right.

It's all give and take I suppose. I say use whatever tools yield the results you wish to acheive.

Thank heavens for my senior year of high school, that AP art class put that camera in my hand and shoved me into a darkroom, where I fell in love, with capturing moments and tinkering with science to produce an image that can send chills down someones spine, or bring tears to their eyes.

Anyway, I just got my hand on a '53 Rollei, now I need some cash so I can buy some film. The pitfall of film to me...$$$

not even in a stealthy way!? How can you beat taking a photo with a friggin matchbox!? It's real life James Bond action!

Oh, and that whole electronic maelstrom death sentence thing for digital film - I once accidentally put a 1GB card in the wash, left it in my pocket on accident...after that whole wash cycle, I found it at the bottom of the machine, water leaking out of it and all. Let it dry up over night, the thing still worked and ALL the photos were on it, none corrupt! Damn card still works to this day. Had that been a roll of delta, or velvia, or whatever flavor of celluloid film...that shit woulda been gone! No way that celluloid woulda held images with ludry detergent soaking it in a spin cycle!

Reading this has almost brought a tear to my eye. I’m so glad that I decided to read it all the way through, I saw how long it was and almost exited out of it. But then that first photograph that was on the first page drew me in........ the one with the model drinking from the bottle with a straw...... it caught my attention because I remember adding it to my favorites a long time ago. The quality of it was unbelievable and just seemed to define “real” black and white.

This has really inspired me. I have been thinking of giving my life over to photography (no other jobs seem to interest me) and this has really forced me to a deciding point. I see photographers like you who have made it, and “sold out” on your terms, but you still have a sense of what IT is all about. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome, thanks for writing it. This should be required reading for everyone, even if they don’t agree with it, there is still a lot of great philosophy and mind-set to pull out of it.

128?? Wow, I’m actually really excited!!! I’ll have to take some time with it though, I’m a slow reader. Question: Are you one of those people who are just fast at getting everything done or do you just like to put a lot of work into this site?

I recently received a Nikon F3 as a gift from friend who's a photographer and "Went digital"

Unfortunately, he left his Leica and Hasselblad to rot in a safe. I dunno, maybe he'll use them. Those New York Times guys just have "no time for film" I guess.

So what I'll do is pop off the prism and just shoot reversed. To meter, I'll get a handheld and carry that around with the ground glass exposed facing up while my camera rests at my hip. Mirror lock up and manual shutter to be as quiet as possible. I think this should actually work pretty well. Focusing is scetchy but not too bad with a 35mm lens and the distance scale to help if needed.

I'm sure it's been done but no one told me so I at least feel like I'm somewhat innovative.

I'm gonna start shooting Ilford Delta as well. This should be fun. Thank you, you've helped more than you think.

I've had a Digilux 2 for a few months now and have been really pleased with it.

I would assume you think that it's a half-assed digital Panasonic-rebrand piece of crap (with a nice lens), but having that means I take a camera with me nearly everywhere, and use it. Which is more than can be said for the Nikon SLR I had for years previously.

I think it's more important to have a camera you're going to use, no matter what it is, than one that may well be awesome but sits in a box.

Maybe one day I'll have the money to get a proper Leica and learn how to use it.

there's not many things that i will sit down and read, but it seems with your work i'm just drawn to it. maybe its your striking shots. maybe im jealous of the equipment you use, because i have shit right now. maybe its your "i don't give a damn" attitude. whatever, it's working, obviously. keep rockin the cameras and the inpiration for us other people. bravissimo

Thank you for sharing these words and photos with us. I think you realize how much of an impact and how inspirational they are by the positive responses. I would just like to add to the mix and also say that my camera will surely be set on "M" far more often now...

It must feel good to just look back and say "I made this..". It's also good to vent, get some things of your chest. You've definatly done both and you are probably the most intriguing character I know on the internet.

...thankfully, since most of my moments are contrived - the pink, purple and orange haired girls indulge me - maybe there's a trust that the moment will be worthwhile and that perhaps i know what i'm doing...

...funny though that i look to something as 'old' as a leica as my future - MP, natch...

...i think i share nearly every thought and philosophy herein - cept the coach part - my days of first class may well be behind me - stoopid internet economy...

I had to print this so I can read it several times...
enjoyable, dense, like your journals...
the bw darkroom is one of the most creative places and you reminded me of how much I miss it...
Creative in various levels mr Weeks.
bravo....